Portable acoustic device

Abstract

A portable stereo system includes a body unit having a tape player and a hinge portion and loudspeaker units having matching hinge portions. The player and loudspeakers can be coupled by a hollow hinge shaft which doubles as a battery holder, and the entire flexible assembly can be fastened around the user's waist or slung across his shoulder by a belt which is detachably fastened to at least the loudspeaker units. If desired, the loudspeakers can be omitted and the belt coupled directly to the hinge shafts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A portable acoustic device in which sound recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced through at least one loudspeaker, said device comprising: a body unit for generating signals corresponding to the sound recorded on a magnetic tape, said body unit having a first hollow hinge part with cylindrical inner walls and positioned on at least one side of said body unit;   at least one loudspeaker unit receiving said signals for reproducing said recorded sound, said at least one loudspeaker unit having a second hollow hinge part thereon, said second hollow hinge part having cylindrical inner walls of substantially the same diameter as those of said first hollow hinge part;   at least one cylindrical shaft passing through said first and second hollow hinge parts to thereby act as a hinge shaft about which said body unit and a least one loudspeaker unit are relatively rotatable, said shaft being of a form such that a battery can be fit therein;   electrical signal connecting means between said body unit and said at least one loudspeaker unit; and   electrical power connecting means between the interior of said shaft and said body unit.   
     
     
       2. A portable acoustic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body unit includes a first hollow hinge part on either side thereof, wherein said at least one loudspeaker unit comprises a pair of loudspeaker units on either side of said body unit, each loudspeaker unit having a second hollow hinge part thereon, and wherein said at least one hollow cylindrical shaft comprises two hollow cylindrical shafts passing through said first and second hollow hinge parts to rotatably couple said loudspeaker units to either side of said body unit. 
     
     
       3. A device as claimed in claim 2, in which at least one belt has one end fastened to one outer side of each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said one outer side of each loudspeaker unit has a belt mounting part to which said belt is fastened. 
     
     
       5. A device as claimed in claim 4, in which said belt mounting part is an opening which is formed in said one outer side of each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       6. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said at least one belt comprises first and second belts having first end portions fastened to respective ones of said two loudspeaker units, with the other end portion of each said belt having fastening means for fastening together said other end portions. 
     
     
       7. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which said at least one belt has fastener means by which said belt can be detachably fastened to at least one loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       8. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the height of said body unit is substantially an integral multiple of the height of one battery inserted in said hollow hinge shaft. 
     
     
       9. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the operating buttons and knobs are arranged on the top surface of at least one of said body unit and said at least one loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       10. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a slit is formed in at least one of said first and second hollow hinge parts so that said body unit is electrically connected to each loudspeaker unit through said slit thus formed. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each loudspeaker unit coupled to said body unit is turnable forwardly and backwardly of said body unit. 
     
     
       12. A portable acoustic device in which sound recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced through a loudspeaker comprising: a body unit for generating signals corresponding to the sound recorded on a magnetic tape, said body unit having at least one first hollow hinge part with cylindrical inner walls and positioned on at least one side of said body unit;   electrical signal connecting means that is connected to said generated signal;   at least one loudspeaker unit having a loudspeaker connected to said electrical signal connecting means receiving said signals for reproducing said recorded sound, said at least one loudspeaker unit having a second hollow hinge part thereon, said second hollow hinge part having cylindrical inner walls of substantially the same diameter as those of said first hollow hinge part;   at least one hollow hinge shaft passing through said first and second hinge parts to mechanically couple said body unit and at least one loudspeaker unit for relative rotation, said hinge shaft being of a form such that a battery fits therewithin and being removable to separate said body unit and at least one loudspeaker unit for playing;   electrical power connecting means between the interior of said hinge shaft and said body unit;   at least one belt, one end of which is detachably connected to said at least one loudspeaker unit; and   means for connecting the other end of said belt to the side of the combination of body and loudspeaker units opposite the side of the other belt end.   
     
     
       13. A portable acoustic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said body unit includes two first hollow hinge parts on both sides thereof, wherein said at least one loudspeaker unit comprises a pair of loudspeakers on both sides of said body unit and each having a second hollow hinge part, and wherein said at least one hinge shaft comprises two hinge shafts passing through said first and second hollow hinge parts to rotatably couple said loudspeakers to either side of said body unit. 
     
     
       14. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which said belt is fastened to a belt mounting part formed on the outer side of each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       15. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which the rear surface of each loudspeaker unit has a plurality of through-holes through which sound from a loudspeaker in each loudspeaker unit is propagated backwardly of each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       16. A device as claimed in claim 13, in which a portion of one of said first and second hollow hinge parts which are integral with said body unit and each loudspeaker unit, respectively, has a slit through which said body unit is electrically connected to each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       17. A device as claimed in claim 16, in which said body unit has a connector receiver, while each loudspeaker has a cord with a connector, and said body unit is electrically connected to each loudspeaker unit through said connector and said connector receiver. 
     
     
       18. A device as claimed in claim 17, in which said connector receiver is provided in a connector receiver chamber which is formed in the rear surface or bottom surface of each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       19. A device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which said at least one hinge shaft is a hollow shaft adapted to receive a battery or batteries. 
     
     
       20. A device as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which the angle of rotation of said at least one loudspeaker unit with respect to said body unit is limited to a predetermined value. 
     
     
       21. A device as claimed in claim 20, in which said at least one loudspeaker unit is turnable with respect to said body unit through 90° both forwardly and backwardly of said body unit. 
     
     
       22. A device as claimed in claim 18, in which said connector receiver chamber has a cover which can be opened and closed as desired. 
     
     
       23. A device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an extension cord for electrically connecting said body unit to each loudspeaker unit when said hinge shafts are removed and said body unit is separated from each loudspeaker unit. 
     
     
       24. A device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a case for holding accessories and spare parts, said case being detachably secured to said belt. 
     
     
       25. A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said body unit and loudspeaker units have belt mounting parts on rear surfaces thereof, and wherein said belt is fastened to said body unit and each of said loudspeaker units by passing through said belt mounting parts. 
     
     
       26. A device as claimed in claim 25, in which said hinge shafts are hollow hinge shafts adapted to receive batteries. 
     
     
       27. A cassette tape recorder in which sound recorded on a magnetic tape is reproduced, comprising: (a) a body unit for generating signals corresponding to the sound recorded on a magnetic tape;   (b) first and second hollow hinge parts which are formed on either side of said body unit in such a manner that said first and second hollow hinge parts are spaced apart from each other;   (c) two cylindrical, hollow hinge shafts inserted into said first and second hollow hinge parts at each side, respectively, of said body unit, said cylindrical hollow hinge shaft adapted to receive a battery or batteries;   (d) belts fastened around respective ones of said cylindrical hollow hinge shafts; and   (e) a head-phone jack and operating buttons for operating a magnetic tape cassette, provided on the top surface of said body unit.